A Colorado mother who pleaded for tens of thousands of dollars in donations and was granted Make-A-Wish experience for her sick daughter has been charged with the girl’s murder. Olivia Gant died in 2017 when she was just seven-years-old. Now police believe Kelly Renee Turner, 41, also known as Kelly Gant, killed her. Some question if this is a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Olivia Gant’s Viral Make-A-Wish
Kelly Gant grabbed national headlines when the Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfilled her daughter Olivia’s wish to battle Batman. And, to become a police officer and a firefighter for the day.
Gant used a blog called “Prayers for Olivia” to gain sympathy and donations from concerned people.
On the blog, Gant claimed Olivia had a slew of diagnoses. However, after a year’s long investigation, authorities say that simply wasn’t true.
Authorities believe this child’s health and death was manipulated and manufactured by her mother in a twisted ploy for attention and money.
Mugshot of Kelly Renee Turner, accused of murder and other charges in the death of her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia Gant, released by @dcsheriff. @9WantsToKnow #9NEWS pic.twitter.com/MTFeWtGKub
— Kevin Vaughan (@writerkev) October 21, 2019
Kelly Gant Arrested in Colorado
The Sheriff Department in Douglas County, Colorado booked Kelly Gant under the name Kelly Renee Turner.
The indictment states the mother “withdrew medical care and nourishment in the girl’s final weeks” and asked that her daughter not be resuscitated. RELATED: This Woman Is Officially The Worst Mother In The Entire World!
Most noteworthy, Olivia’s body was exhumed in 2018. But no evidence was found of intestinal failure, her supposed cause of death, or any of the other conditions that Gant claimed.
Multiple doctors didn’t believe that Olivia was suffering from the illnesses her mother claimed. Childrens Hospital Colorado officials expressed concern about the girl’s death.
Authorities became involved after Kelly Gant’s other daughter also started to get suspiciously ill.
Kelly Gant GoFundMe and Medicaid scams
Kelly Gant allegedly scammed more than just the Make-A-Wish people.
“We are hoping for support both financially, spiritually, and emotionally. Not only will this be a taxing time for Kelly (mom), and Olivia but for Olivia’s sisters and the friends and family who are willing to step in and help during this time,” Gant pleaded on her 2015 GoFundMe.
Kelly Gant’s GoFundMe campaign for Olivia raised over $22,000.
She is also accused of stealing half a million from Medicaid and others.
Kelly Gant faces these charges.
C.R.S 18-3-102 (1)(f) Murder In the First Degree
C.R.S. 18-3-102 (1)(a) Murder In the First Degree
C.R.S. 18-6-401 (1) Child Abuse
C.R.S. 18-4-401 Theft (three counts)
C.R.S. 6-6-111 Charitable Fraud (three counts)
C.R.S. 18-8-306 Attempt to Influence a Public Servant (two counts)
C.R.S. 18-5-104 Second Degree Forgery (2 counts)
More information about this case and the charges that Kelly Gant is facing are in the video below.
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP)
This could be a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a caregiver makes up or even causes illnesses of the person in his or her care.
Now, a girl is dead and her mother is facing murder charges. One saving grace is that Kelly Gant’s other daughter might be spared a similar fate as Olivia.
Kelly Gant wanted the world to think she was caring diligently for her terminally ill daughter. Tears, sympathy, and money were apparently fueling this mother to harm her child.
Little Olivia didn’t have a chance.
Olivia Gant’s mother, Kelly Renee Turner, mentioned “Munchausen syndrome by proxy” when being questioned, the indictment says. https://t.co/5Wdu3kI7cH
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) October 21, 2019
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy in Pop Culture
Recent pop culture is shining a light on Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Gut wrenching portrayals of seemingly attentive and concerned mothers scamming the world are captivating audiences.
Complex characters played by Patricia Clarkson on the HBO miniseries “Sharp Objects” and Patricia Arquette on the Hulu series “The Act” expose us to the terrifying realities of this syndrome.
The latest twisted mother to grace the screen is on the Netflix series “The Politician.” Two-time Academy Award winner, and four-time nominee, Jessica Lange plays the mentally ill mother.
Certainly, it’s hard for the everyday person to process such a horrific scenario especially when it involves an innocent child.